Prince William and Kate Middleton share a glimpse inside their Jubilee celebration

Prince William and Kate Middleton have shared a glimpse inside their Jubilee celebration as they posted snaps offering a behind-the-scenes look at their ‘fantastic’ weekend online.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to their official Instagram page today to share a number of photographs from events across the weekend, including images taken at royal events.

In one snap, Kate can be seen waiting with George, Charlotte and Louis on steps of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour.

In another, Kate and William can be seen attending a street party in Kensington, just a short walk from her London residency of Kensington Palace, as they chatted with local attendees.

Meanwhile the caption hinted at the fun they’d had as a family over the weekend, reading: ‘We all had an incredible time, especially Louis…’.

Four-year-old Prince Louis stole the show at a number of royal events over the weekend. After wowing fans on the Royal balcony, he showed off his star power again while watching the fourth day of Platinum Jubilee celebrations last night. 

The caption read: ‘What a fantastic weekend of celebrations. 

‘Seeing people across the nation coming together with family, friends and loved ones has been extremely special.

‘Thank you to everyone who turned out to show their gratitude to The Queen and her inspiring 70 years of leadership.

‘From the crowds on the Mall to communities hosting street parties up and down the country, we hope you had a weekend to remember.’

The caption went on to hint at the fun the youngest Cambridge child had had during the event. Prince Louis wowed royal fans over the weekend and delighted crowds on Thursday as he stood next to his great-grandmother The Queen with his hands covering his ears amid the roaring cries of the public.

Last night, as he sat next to the Duchess of Cambridge in the Royal Box at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London, he reacted with similar wonder at all the fuss.

At times, he was pictured cocking a snook, put his hands over his mother’s mouth, waved his arms in the air and stood on his seat for a better view.

He later moved across to his other relatives and sat on his grandfather Prince Charles’ lap, who pointed out the spectacles in the parade.

In snaps posted by the couple today, the family could be seen gathering backstage at official royal events, including Trooping the Colour.

One black and white photograph shows the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, apparently before or after the event, speaking with fellow attendees inside the palace while their youngest son watched on.

Another image showed Prince William walking out on stage to offer a speech in honour of his grandmother. 

A third was a short clip featuring the Duke and his oldest son Prince George walking from behind towards Buckingham Palace. 

A number of other photographs showed the couple at a Kensington street party. The Duchess was dressed in a blue dress with white polka dots, which she later changed out of when she appeared at the Royal Box in pink on the fourth day of the Jubilee weekend.

One attendee, Sandra Duggan, said it was a ‘lovely surprise’ to see William and Kate at St Helen’s Church Jubilee Big Lunch in north Kensington.

Another said it was ‘the perfect Royal ending to the Platinum Jubilee Weekend’, adding he felt ‘incredibly honoured’ to meet the Cambridges.

‘As a new British Citizen they spent such lovely and welcoming words and we will treasure this moment forever,’ he added. 

The new snaps were revealed as a royal expert said The Queen was ‘sending a clear message about the future of the monarchy’ by making a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace alongside Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George last night 

The 96-year-old monarch was absent for much of the extended Bank Holiday weekend, after finding the first day enjoyable but tiring, and in a message of thanks acknowledged this but said her ‘heart’ had been with well-wishers. 

The Duchess of Cornwall, patron of the Big Lunch, estimated that up to 18 million people could have taken part in Jubilee street parties, and the Queen expressed her hope this ‘renewed sense of togetherness’ would be felt for years to come. 

After the outpouring of public affection during her balcony appearance, the Queen said she was ‘humbled and deeply touched’ so many people had taken part in celebrations marking her 70-year reign. 

Surrounded by her family, including Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, George, Charlotte and Louis, she was cheered by thousands of well-wishers after stepping on to the balcony following the Platinum Pageant, which told the story of her life, and the nation, with an eccentric, fun and imaginative carnival-like display. 

Royal expert Phil Dampier revealed the appearance of the children was ‘very significant’.

He explained it showed ‘an image of a loving extended family’, telling FEMAIL: ‘The fact that the three children were standing on the balcony at the end with the Queen sent out a clear message that they are the future and that there are three kings in waiting.’

Meanwhile he revealed: ‘The appearances of George Charlotte and Louis were clearly very significant and marked their debut on the public stage.

‘George and Charlotte had their first royal walkabout in Cardiff and it will be the first of many!

‘Prince Charles once said that the day he realised he would one day be king and that his destiny was mapped out for him was a tremendous shock, and I often wonder whether it’s dawned on George yet.

‘He seems quite shy but he’s going to have to get used to it so introducing them at a national event where the focus isn’t just on them was a good idea to slowly introduce them to royal duties.’

He continued: ‘All the other children were very much family members enjoying a special occasion.

‘It was wonderful to see them and the children of both Peter and Zara Phillips are tremendous characters. They were clearly enjoying every moment of it and why not?’

‘The Queen is their great grandmother as well as their monarch and they were supporting her celebrations.’

He added that the appearances ‘certainly help to promote an image of an extended loving family, and the Queen dotes on them all.’

Phil continued: ‘Her grandchildren and great grandchildren span an age range of more than 40 years which is incredible.

‘And at last she was able to meet Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, who was named after her.

‘As usual the Californian couple didn’t want the public to see their children and scuttled off on a private jet.

‘But they were a sideshow and most importantly the Queen was able to enjoy the four days and the royal kids played a massive role in the proceedings.’

During a speech last night, the Queen looked down on The Mall where tens of thousands had waited in hope of seeing her. 

The Queen said later in her message: ‘When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee. 

‘While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family. 

‘I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come. 

‘I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.’ 

The Queen had not been seen since she made two balcony appearances on the first day of the Jubilee celebrations, when Trooping the Colour was held, and the Duchess of Cambridge later said she had found the day enjoyable but tiring. 

But the Queen looked at ease on the balcony as the celebrations drew to a close, leaning on a walking stick, now a routine aid following her mobility issues, and acknowledging the crowds with a wave. 

The Prince of Wales stood with the Queen along with the Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

After the national anthem was sung by a choir of celebrities including Sir David Jason, Harry Redknapp, Sir Cliff Richard, Sandie Shaw and Felicity Kendal, the Queen waved again at well-wishers and was joined by her great-grandchildren, with Louis waving with both hands. 

The royal family had planned to see a display by the Red Arrows from their balcony vantage point, but it was called off due to the low clouds which had threatened rain all day. 

Earlier in the day Charles had expressed the same sentiment as the Queen when he spoke about the camaraderie the Jubilee events had fostered. 

He told revellers at The Big Lunch’s flagship event in London, which he attended with Camilla, that he hoped ‘bickering’ did not return after the feeling of ‘togetherness’ across the nation.

Princess Eugenie described the Jubilee Pageant as ‘incredible’, writing on her Instagram: ‘The Platinum Jubilee Pageant was just incredible. To all the people that took part, organised it, made it flawless for us all watching, Thank you. You made us all so proud.’

A post on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Twitter account read: ‘Amazing display of street art, theatre, music, sport and more… What a joyous occasion at the #PlatinumJubile pageant!’

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the monarch, saying he was ‘grateful [to Britain] for supporting Ukraine in the fight for our freedom and independence’. 

It comes after she stepped out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony for nearly three minutes, in her first public appearance since Platinum Jubilee celebrations began on Thursday.

The monarch, 96, was greeted by roars from thousands of spectators gathered on The Mall as Britain’s longest-serving head of state was helped onto the balcony by Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, George, Charlotte and Louis.

The royals then joined the crowd in a spine-tingling chorus of God Save The Queen shortly after 5pm, bringing the the Jubilee celebrations to a close.

Her Majesty, dressed in green, was missing from the royal box but arrived at the Palace from Windsor Castle at around 4.30pm, when the royal standard was raised. She was last seen four days ago after pulling out of two Jubilee events amid growing concerns for her health.

Pomp and pageantry kicked off the final day of Jubilee celebrations celebrating the Queen’s astonishing 70-year reign as a hologram of the young monarch waving at royal fans and a ceremonial military procession launched the 2½-hour pageant.

Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their children George, Charlotte and Louis, Princess Anne, and Zara and Mike Tindall are all seated in the royal box alongside Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan to watch the two-mile procession through central London.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are visiting the UK together for the first time since they acrimoniously quit royal duties, were absent for a second day running. on Saturday they celebrated their daughter Lilibet’s 1st birthday, and introduced the child to her namesake.

The pageant was split into four acts: For Queen and Country with a military parade; The Time of Our Lives progressing through seven decades of culture, music and fashion; Let’s Celebrate telling the story of the Queen’s life in 12 chapters with corgi puppets and carnival creations; and the Happy and Glorious musical spectacle.

Close to 200 national treasures including Sir David Jason, Harry Redknapp, Sandie Shaw, Felicity Kendal, Joe Wicks and Holly Willoughby joined pop sensation Ed Sheeran in a mass rendition of God Save The Queen outside Buckingham Palace at the end of the pageant.

Guardsmen, Gurkhas, Royal Marines and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in their breastplates and plumed feathers were among the hundreds of servicemen and women who led the way marching along the streets around Buckingham Palace.

Charles took the salute of various military units when they passed the royal box and he stood to acknowledge the servicemen and women as they passed. 

Some 10,000 people including a cast of 6,000 performers are involved in staging the carnival route from Horse Guards, along Whitehall to Admiralty Arch and down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, echoing Her Majesty’s 1953 coronation procession.

British eccentricity was soon to the fore when the cyclists on a menagerie of bikes rode past Buckingham Palace, including a biker dressed as the character Elliot from the sci-fi Movie ET, complete with the Extra Terrestrial in the cycle’s basket.

As the decades flashed by revellers in period 1940s clothes danced the Lambeth Walk and further down The Mall jiving performers represented the 1950s.

Interspersed were iconic vehicles from Morris Minors, rockers on classic motorbikes and Mods on scooters, while the national treasures – celebrities from across the years including Katherine Jenkins, Bonnie Langford, Alan Titchmarsh, Basil Brush, Kate Garraway and RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Baga Chipz and Blu Hydrangea, and fashion royalty Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell – travelled on buses.

Sir Cliff Richard sang from the 1950s bus, former boxer Chris Eubank posed from the open top-deck of another, and TV presenter Johnny Ball joked on the BBC about the experience on the 1970s bus: ‘It’s all right, but I’m worried I haven’t paid my fare’.

A peloton of 300 cyclists travelled down The Mall led by Sir Chris Hoy and cycling golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason Kenny. 

The Queen’s three-minute appearance on the balcony delighted the crowd who were not sure whether she would be there.

It came after Ed Sheeran took to the stage to play his hit song Perfect, against a moving back-drop of a montage of video clips of the Queen throughout the years.

Paula and Patrick Queenan, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, said the Queen and the royal family coming out on to the balcony was the best part of the Jubilee celebrations.

Mrs Queenan, 57, said: ‘Seeing the Queen come out on the balcony was amazing. We didn’t know if she’d come or not. This was the first day that I’ve been here and this was the real highlight.’

Mr Queenan, 58, added: ‘I came for the fly past on Thursday and the atmosphere was fantastic.

‘Our daughter and her fiance came down from Sheffield today. They’re both doctors and so they’re going to head back now and they’re on duty tonight.

‘We had a street party on Friday, the whole street came to ours and sang the national anthem. Seeing the Queen has been the best bit of this week.’

 

Charles spoke about the camaraderie the Jubilee celebrations have fostered, telling revellers at The Big Lunch’s flagship event in London he hoped ‘bickering’ does not return after the feeling of ‘togetherness’ across the nation.

Sadiq Khan hailed the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant as ‘spectacular’ as celebrations draw to a close.

The Mayor of London tweeted: ‘Wasn’t that spectacular?’

‘It was moving to see so many of London’s performers, service people, key workers and school children involved in today’s #PlatinumJubilee Pageant to tell the story of the Queen’s historic 70-year reign.’

His sentiment was echoed by Pageant Master Adrian Evans, who has spent 18 months planning the £15 million event, featuring some 10,000 people including a cast of 6,000 performers.

Mr Evans told BBC News: ‘I hope at the end of the day people will feel a great sense of pride in what they’ve seen, enjoyment in what they’ve seen, humour and joy is an important part of what we’re doing today but also connected, that we are much more connected then we think we are.’

He told Sky News: ‘What I wanted to do first and foremost was provide an opportunity for people to express themselves in their own wonderful, idiosyncratic, quirky way and that to the iconic streets around Buckingham Palace.’